U.S. patent application number 11/057351 was filed with the patent office on 2006-08-17 for conduit retention clip.
This patent application is currently assigned to Capro, Inc.. Invention is credited to Vernon A. JR. Harrison.
Application Number | 20060180718 11/057351 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36814728 |
Filed Date | 2006-08-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060180718 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Harrison; Vernon A. JR. |
August 17, 2006 |
Conduit retention clip
Abstract
A conduit retention clip has an upper and a lower portion. The
upper portion has a C-shaped portion. Entrance into the C-shaped
portion is obtained by passing a cylindrical object through two
inwardly facing flexible fingers. The lower portion includes a
connection for attachment of the conduit retention clip to a
panel.
Inventors: |
Harrison; Vernon A. JR.;
(Conroe, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BAKER & HOSTETLER LLP
WASHINGTON SQUARE, SUITE 1100
1050 CONNECTICUT AVE. N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20036-5304
US
|
Assignee: |
Capro, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
36814728 |
Appl. No.: |
11/057351 |
Filed: |
February 14, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/74.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16L 3/123 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/074.2 |
International
Class: |
F16L 3/08 20060101
F16L003/08 |
Claims
1. A clip for retention of a cylindrical object to a stationary
object, said clip comprising: a lower portion, said lower portion
including means for affixing the clip to the stationary object; a
substantially C-shaped upper portion including a flexible portion
for contacting and surrounding the cylindrical object, said
substantially C-shaped portion further including flexible fingers
extending therefrom, said flexible fingers further including
inward-facing flexible keepers which prevent the clip from sliding
past a marker on the cylindrical object.
2. The clip as defined in claim 1 wherein the contact between said
substantially C-shaped upper portion and the cylindrical object
will permit both rotation of the clip around the cylindrical object
and axial movement along the cylindrical object.
3. A process for retaining a cylindrical object to a stationary
object, said process comprising the steps of: inserting the
cylindrical object through a pair of inward-facing flexible fingers
into a C-shaped portion in the upper portion of a conduit retention
clip; moving the cylindrical object into contact with the interior
of said C-shaped portion in the upper portion of the conduit
retention clip; affixing said conduit retention clip to the
stationary object.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] This invention pertains to a clip device; more particularly,
the present invention pertains to a clip used with a cylindrical
object, such as the outer conduit portion of a cable and conduit
assembly. The clip may be used to affix the cable and conduit
assembly to another object, such as a panel.
BACKGROUND
[0002] While clips of various sizes have been available for many
years, it has been found that currently available clips for
attaching cylindrical objects, such as the outer conduit portion of
a cable and conduit assembly, can slide past tape markers, other
locating markers, or objects typically found on cable and conduit
assemblies. Tape markers and other locating markers may be used for
identification, positioning, or for a variety of other functions
associated with assembly procedures. Other objects found on cable
and conduit assemblies may include foam, heat score marks, or
crimped objects.
[0003] Because many prior art clips have openings therein, the
clips may work themselves past tape markers, other markers, or
other objects, thereby mispositioning the clips. Accordingly, a
need remains in the art for a conduit retention clip which will not
slide past a tape marker, other markers, or other objects typically
found on cable and conduit assemblies.
SUMMARY
[0004] The conduit retention clip of the present invention is
constructed and arranged for mounting on the outer conduit portion
of a cable and conduit assembly and includes flexible fingers which
prevent it from sliding past a tape marker, other markers, or other
objects typically found on a cable and conduit assembly.
[0005] The conduit retention clip of the present invention has an
upper portion and a lower portion. On the upper portion are
flexible fingers for receipt of a cylindrical object, such as the
outer conduit portion of a cable and conduit assembly. The flexible
fingers allow the conduit retention clip to be put on a conduit, a
tube, a rod, or other type of cylindrical object. Once the conduit,
the tube, the rod, the other type of cylindrical object passes
through the flexible fingers, the flexibility of the fingers allows
them to snap back in place to create a barrier which prevents the
clip from sliding past items typically attached to the outer
portion of a cable and conduit assembly, such as tape markers,
foam, a heat score, or a crimped object.
[0006] On the lower portion of the conduit retention clip is a
panel retention portion to facilitate the mounting of the conduit
retention clip to a stationary object such as a panel or plate.
[0007] The unique feature of the conduit retention clip of the
present invention is the flexible fingers that prevent the clip
from sliding past items attached to a cylindrical object, but at
the same time allowing a range of motion and full rotation of the
retention clip around the cylindrical object.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0008] A better understanding of the conduit retention clip of the
present invention may be had by reference to the drawing figures,
wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the
conduit retention clip;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the first embodiment of
the conduit retention clip surrounding a conduit and cable
assembly;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a front elevational view in partial section at 3-3
in FIG. 2 of the first embodiment of the conduit retention clip
attached to a conduit and cable assembly;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the
conduit retention clip;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the second embodiment
of the conduit retention clip surrounding a conduit and cable
assembly;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a front elevational view in partial section at 6-6
in FIG. 5 of the second embodiment of conduit retention clip
attached to a conduit and cable assembly; and
[0015] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a conduit and cable
assembly including a tape marker to illustrate the operation of the
conduit retention clip of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0016] As shown in FIG. 7, the disclosed conduit retention clip 10
of the present invention is designed to snap over a conduit and
cable assembly 100 and to be positioned on the conduit and cable
assembly 100 near an object located on the cable and conduit
assembly 100. This object may be a tape marker 110 formed from tape
doubled over the conduit and cable assembly to form flagged ends.
Proper positioning of the conduit retention clip 10 on the conduit
and cable assembly 100 allows it to be easily mountable to a
stationary portion of a vehicle or a piece of outdoor power
equipment. Typically, the lower portion 62 of the conduit retention
clip is inserted into a mounting hole which positions the conduit
retention clip and holds the cable and conduit assembly 100 in a
desired location.
[0017] Shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 is a first embodiment of a
conduit retention clip assembly 10. The lower portion 12 is sized
to pass through an opening in a panel or plate (not shown). As best
shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, spring fingers 15 are used to retain
the conduit retention clip 10 in place, once it has been pushed
through a hole in the panel. Alternatively, a compressible conical
section 75 may be used as shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6. Those of
ordinary skill in the art will understand that still other methods
of attachment may be used, such as a snap ring and groove formed on
the bottom 12 of the conduit retention clip 10.
[0018] Positioned over the lower portion 12 is an upper holder
portion 16. The upper holder portion 16 may include a flat or
curved bottom 18, depending on the shape of the stationary object
to which the conduit retention clip 10 is affixed. A curved bottom
18 may be used to provide a tension force between the conduit
retention clip 10 and the panel to prevent or reduce
movement--which movement may produce an unacceptable rattle. The
upper holder portion 16 includes a C-shaped portion 22 sized to fit
around a cylindrical object, such as a cable and conduit assembly
100 (FIG. 3). Entry into the C-shaped portion 22 is accomplished by
passing the cylindrical object through two or more inwardly facing
flexible fingers 24 and 26.
[0019] Shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 is a second embodiment of the
conduit retention clip assembly 60. Like the first embodiment of
the conduit retention clip shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the lower
portion 62 is one of a variety of different configurations for
securing the clip assembly 60 to a panel or plate. Specifically, a
collapsible cone 75 is used instead of the spring fingers 15 shown
in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. The upper portion 16 of the second embodiment
of the conduit retention clip 60 also includes a substantially
C-shaped portion 22 sized to fit around a range of substantially
cylindrical objects 100. Extending outwardly from the opening in
the C-shaped portion are two inwardly facing flexible fingers 24
and 26. It is the overlap of these fingers which prevents the clip
10 from sliding past tape markers, foam, a heat score, or a crimped
object.
[0020] When it is desired to place the cylindrical object 100
within the C-shaped portion 22, the cylindrical object 100 is
simply placed against the outer surface of the inwardly facing
flexible fingers 24 and 26. A small amount of pressure will cause
the cylindrical object to pass into and contact the inside 23 of
the C-shaped portion 22. The flexible nature of the C-shaped
portion 22 will allow the conduit retention clip 10 to be pushed
onto the cylindrical object or conduit 100 and still be securely
retained on the cylindrical object or conduit 100. In the preferred
embodiment, the conduit retention clip 10 is still loose enough to
permit rotation about the cylindrical object or conduit 100 and
axial travel along the cylindrical object or conduit 100 within
space defined by the features on the conduit, such as tape markers.
The retention portion 75 of the lower portion 62 may then be pushed
through a hole in a panel up to the undersurface of bottom 18. It
is the flexible feature of the disclosed conduit retention clip 10
that retains the conduit retention clip 10 of the present invention
on cylindrical objects better than prior art clips. Yet, this
flexibility allows the disclosed conduit retention clip 10 to
rotate and move within its designated location while at the same
time being more difficult to slide out of position--specifically
from moving past the tape flags or other items positioned on a
conduit.
[0021] While the present invention system and method have been
disclosed according to the preferred embodiment of the invention,
those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that other
embodiments have also been enabled. Such other embodiments shall
fall within the scope and meaning of the appended claims.
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